Happy Birthday, Ava!

Have you ever gotten a gift that was so much better than anything you had ever asked for or could ever imagine? God has given me many of those gifts and one of them is 10 years old today.
(This pic was taken at school today. This post will be a quicky because we're on our way to take her out for a birthday dinner.)




Ava has one of the sweetest spirits and tender hearts of any person (child or adult) I've ever known. She is the daffodil in the garden that is our family. She's the one who leaves love notes on everyone's pillows and is the originator of all the nicknames of our family members. She loves every living creature--fuzzy or slithery--and has such empathy for others well beyond her years. She is sweet sunshine and am so grateful that she's my daughter.

When she was seven, she said to me, "Mom, out of all the mommies in the world, I'm so glad God gave you to me." And out of all the families God could have placed her in, I'm so grateful God chose ours.

Happy birthday to our ballet-dancing,



sister-cheering,



brother-adoring,



gift from God.



We love you!

Mom, Dad, Olivia, Daniel, Brady, Snuffles and Doodle